Penalosa triumphs after headbutt

Penalosa triumphs after headbutt

MANILA (Reuters): Gerry Penalosa was left bloodied but still the champion when the referee halted his World Boxing Council (WBC) super flyweight defense after a clash of heads with Mexican challenger Joel Luna Zarate yesterday.

Referee Richard Steele stopped the fight two minutes and 56 seconds into the second round after an accidental head butt by Zarate opened a deep cut above the Filipino champion's right eye.

The decision meant the 25-year-old Penalosa retained the title he took from Japanese Hiroshi Kawashima in 1996 and successfully defended twice last year.

The three ringside judges had all scored the first round 10-9 in favor of the Filipino.